The cat curiosity killed (Friday Fictioneers)
PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook
“What’s that?”
“A shell, darling.”
“What’s that?”
“A fossil, dear.”
A pause. Shuffling feet. A sniff and a sleeve scrubs across a wet nose. “What’s that?”
Sigh. “Driftwood, sweetie.”
A longer pause. A heel scraped across the floor leaves a black mark. “What’s that?”
“The line to see the penguins.”
Thumping feet to the window. Smudges and an ear-aching sound of wet glass. “What’s that?”
“A sea monster who eats little boys who ask questions, honey.”
A pause. Little fingers wipe red eyes.
“Really?”
“Sweetheart, you don’t really care what they are do you?”
“Can we have burgers tonight?”
Sigh
This is a Friday Fictioneers Prompt
Word count: 100
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Rambles, writing and amusing musings 
I read this as a child trying very hard to be interested and bond with the adult whose stand off reaction is one of condescending irritation. Was this the intention?
Interesting. No I left it very open to see how it would be interpreted 😊 thanks James
Haha, I recognised this straight away. Being a parent is tricky, so many times you take them places you think will fascinate them and they have no interest. Mention ‘McDonalds’ for a lunch treat and you’re the best Dad ever!! 🙂
Yesssss lol I have seen and heard this reaction many times. Hahaha
Sometimes they ask to go back round once again to see the dinosaur that scared them the first time
Hahaha oh yes so true… and then peek between their fingers at it. 😁
Ah, been there. When they’re not listening to the answers, the trick is to say something outrageous in a dead-pan voice. That usually keeps them on their toes.
Yup exactly what the sea monster is all about… unless it is actually there of course…
Ahhh, the beauty of children’s curiosity, and the dreaded “why”. I thought the twins would never outgrow it… one hasn’t and that’s a good thing. He’s still learning even at 28. 🙂 ❤
Hahaha well that’s great to hear. Questions are wonderful, though they do get a bit tiresome too
😁😁
yes, they do… but in the end, it’s ALL worth it to see them flourish!
Dear Laurie,
I wonder what would’ve happened if the parent had given outrageous answers. What did parents do before fast food? Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Oh…duh…she did give an outrageous answer. I’m a little slow on the uptake.
Hahaha slipped that in there l. I can just imagine my mum’s dry voice 😉
Haha sooo true. Burgers are a great and terrible ‘fix’
Little boy asking questions, all for a burger?
Little questions are a special torture!
Ah, toddlers and the “Why?” questions, or in this case, “what’s that?” Takes a strong will to slog through the thousands of them in one hour. Burgers it is!!
Yes! Exactly. A special kind of torture. So earnest and needed but soooo annoying! Haha 😊
For the first few sentences I felt like James; adult being condescending. But by the end you’d persuaded me of a different view. I think it’s a small boy who has a cold (wet nose, red eyes) and it’s a rainy day so he can’t go out. And he’s asking mom questions that start off fairly sensible, but both answers and questions become more fanciful, until small boy suddenly thinks “Burger!”
You catch the interaction between querulous parent and fractious child very accurately!
My son used to demand information wholesale. “Tell me all you know about (snakes /aluminium /bees /batteries/whatever)
Thanks Penny. Thats what I was aiming for! You nailed it. Omg yours were very clever to ask for everything you know. So hard for you though. You must have done a lot of research. 😊
This brought back memories – although my strongest memories are of the dreaded and interminable ‘why’ stage. When they get to teenage years they stop talking all together and resort to grunts – much easier to handle 🙂 Excellent dialogue.
Oh yes grunts and eyebrows. Young voices asking what and why are a different torture!
We all want to be the parent who can interest kids in the finer things, most times however the promise of McDonalds and then sweets is enough to win them over!!
Hahahaha sooooo true! And at the end of an exhausting day I can understand the need.
This is why I never became a parent. NO patience when it comes to children. You captured that well ~ although the parent seemed quite patient for awhile.
Haha thanks Alicia. I just feel for the mums and dads who withstand this daily torture!
I could feel the child’s boredom in this piece. Just as an aside though, it’s great when your child get old enough to understand a bribe!
All of us parents have been there…the endless why and what questions – love the deadpan answer that stops him in his tracks long enough to stop and switch it up to lunch…
Hahahaha i dont know how you all do it! Takes the patience of a saint… or well… a mum!
And alcohol… 🥂🍸🍷
Hahaha!!
I think every parent has played the WHY game with their children. I once responded to my persistent son’s “Why?” wiith “Why not?” It worked for me for quite a while 🙂
Hahaha good one Gran!!! Love it
I think this is a very common way for kids to ask… maybe in the end it’s the burger that matters the most.
I think so. I think in the end its just spending a good day with parents and hey burgers! Lol
Been there so many times. Nicely done.
Lovely questioning voice – pity the chid wasn’t truly interested as that is one worn out parent.
Yes but the little man will remember spending the day with his mum. 😊 hopefully